Prosecutors get 'voluminous' file on sex attack claim from Notre Dame

November 22, 2010

University of Notre Dame police have forwarded to prosecutors their findings regarding allegations that a football player sexually attacked a woman -- a complaint brought to campus authorities more than two months ago.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak said Monday that campus police had forwarded a "voluminous report" to his office last week but that he was unaware of it until Sunday, when the Tribune published a story detailing the university's handling of the case. The Tribune had notified Notre Dame of its findings several days before Sunday's report was published and indicated at the time that the paper intended to run a story on the allegations soon.

Dvorak said Monday he had not yet finished reading the police file and could not speak to its specific contents.

"I wish to emphasize that cases involving such allegations are complex and it would be inappropriate to rush to conclusions, rather than allowing the thorough review by prosecutors to occur in this matter," Dvorak said.

The allegations were made to Notre Dame police on Sept. 1 by a freshman from neighboring St. Mary's College who apparently killed herself nine days later.

The player has remained on the football team. Meanwhile, his accuser's parents have hired a former federal prosecutor to look into Notre Dame's handling of the matter.